Angela Rayner faces fury from landlords over Section 21 removal

Angela Rayner has promised to abolish Section 21 straight away if Labour wins the next general election.

In an interview with LBC, the Shadow Housing Secretary answered questions from worried landlords about the removal of Section 21.

Ms Rayner argued that “no-fault evictions are causing misery for people”.

What happens if Section 21 is abolished?

One landlord told the Shadow Housing Secretary that he houses vulnerable people in his properties and the removal of Section 21 will frighten many landlords.

He said: “I specialize in taking homeless people and people from charities who are ex-drug addicts. I take these people on the condition that they get one chance, they can’t mess it up.

“If Section 21 was abolished I would not be able to take these vulnerable people because I could not get rid of them.”

The landlord emphasised the critical role Section 21 played in his ability to help house vulnerable people.

“I have had instances where I have had to use Section 21 because I’ve had an ex drunk who’s been homeless and after five or six months he’s gone back on booze and I’ve had to go through that process. What happens if I can’t do that anymore?

“I wouldn’t be able to take the risk and take people who are homeless or ex drug addicts from charities and that’s all I specialize in. I ask you will you abolish Section 21?”

Turf people out without any explanation

Ms Rayner told the landlord that no-fault evictions would be abolished immediately under a Labour government.

“Yes, we would abolish Section 21. I’m being honest with you and I gave you a straight answer. I know that the court system is in a mess at the moment and that needs sorting out.

“There’s so many good landlords out there and they’re frustrated by the current situation and the work you are doing is really important.

“However, on balance, Section 21 is causing misery for a lot of people because it is used to turf people out without any explanation or excuse.”

She added: “We need to make sure there’s a fair balance between renters and landlords and being honest with you I think at the moment it’s much too much towards landlords as opposed to tenants.”

Landlords wants their property back

Elsewhere in the interview, one landlord told Ms Rayner scrapping Section 21 would cause chaos in landlords trying to gain back possession of their property.

He said: “Most landlords don’t have an issue renting to any tenant that looks after the property and pays the rent.

“However, if it all goes wrong and the landlord wants their property back, they don’t want to wait nine months and they don’t want to have to spend several thousand pounds.

Ms Rayner interrupted and asked: “Is that why you think so many of these Section 21 notices are implemented and imposed on people at the moment because they are significantly used?”

The landlord argued back saying most landlords don’t issue a Section 21 without a valid reason.

He said: “The main reason a landlord will use Section 21 is because they want a tenant out for a reason.

“The tenant might be in breach of the lease or they are causing a disturbance. Section 8 is going to stop all that and therefore landlords will flee the market or the ones that are in the market won’t let to tenants on lower incomes.

“At the end of the day, a landlord has to know that they can get their property back quickly and efficiently.”

The full video can be seen here

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